Universal Solider chords

Donovan
  • Universal Solider was written by Buffy Sainte-Marie - an Indigenous Canadian-American singer-songwriter. The song was released in 1964 on her debut album It's My Way!
  • Featured Artist: Donovan - Scottish musician, songwriter, and record producer. He released the song in Nov 1965, on his second album, Fairytale which included the song on the US version of the album.
  • Music: Key of G Major in 4/4 time at approx. 105 bpm (♩)
  • Chords: G, Am7, C, D, Em
  • Capo: 4th fret if you are playing along with the video (Bb Major)
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
G Major Am7 C Major D Major Em
G Major Am7 C Major D Major Em

Universal Solider

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
                 C          D
Intro: 4/4  |         |2/4        |4/4    𝄎    |   𝄎   |

         C         D            G        Em
 1. He's five foot-two and he's six feet-four
       C           D                  G
    He fights with mis-siles and with spears
         C              D            G            Em
    He's all of thir-ty one and he's on-ly se-ven-teen
           C                          Am7     D
    Been a sol-dier for a thou-sand | years -    |

          C           D          G            Em
2. He'a a Catholic, a Hin-du, an Ath-e-ist, a Jain
     C                D               G
   A Bud-dhist, and a Bap-tist, and a Jew
          C                   D            G                Em
   And he knows he should-n't kill  and he knows he al-ways will
                C                           Am7    D
   Kill you for me, my friend, and me for | you  -    |
    
            C             D             G             Em
3. And he's fight-ing for Ca-na-da He's fight-ing for France
        C                 D     G
   He's fight-ing for the U. S. A
            C                 D                  G                Em
   And he's fight-ing for the Rus-sians and he's fight-ing for Ja-pan
          C                                     Am7     D
   And he thinks we'll put an end to war this | way  -    |

            C                D                  G                 Em
4. And he's fight-ing for De-moc-ra-cy and he's fight-ing for the Reds
      C                 D        G
   He says it's for the peace of all
            C               D             G                 Em
   He's the one who must de-cide who's to live and who's to die
          C                                 Am7    D
   And he ne-ver sees the writ-ing on the | wall -    |

            C                 D                G                 Em
5. But with-out him how would Hit-ler have con-demned them at La-Bau?
        C               D                  G
   With-out him Cae-sar would have stood a-lone
            C                 D          G              Em
   He's the one who gives his Bo-dy as a wea-pon of the war
            C                                    Am7     D
   And with-out him all this kill-ing can't go | on   -    |

            C            D               G             Em
6. He's the U-ni-ver-sal Sol-dier and he real-ly is to Blame
       C                 D            G
   His or-ders come from far a-way no more
                  C                  D
   They come from here and there and you and me... 
                  12/8...
       G                    Em
   And Bro-thers, can't you see?
           C                             Am7
   This is not the way we put the end to war...

Back to 60's Music Back To Top
Contact Me

A seasoned performer joyfully playing the guitar